Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
- EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II telephoto zoom lens
- Compatible with Canon EOS film and digital SLR cameras
- Effective focal length:
- 70-200mm with full-frame digital or film cameras
- 112-320mm with APS-C sensor cameras
Improving upon one of the most celebrated lenses in the Canon EF line is no easy feat, but Canon has done just that. The all-new EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM increases the speed, performance and optical quality of the EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM while maintaining all of the characteristics that have made it a legend for professionals and advanced amateurs alike. The EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM features one fluorite and five UD elements for increased optical quality and reduced chromatic aberration.
List Price: $ 2,499.00
Price: $ 2,499.00
Mamiya RZ67 Pro II Camera w/ 127mm F3.5 Lens 120 Back | US $745.00 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 17:20:31 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $745.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
The wide world of camera lenses
Article by carl formby
Minolta has always been the leader in producing lenses that are one of its own kinds. The minolta camera lenses have now gone beyond the imagination of the crowd. Recently, these people have come up with the exotic special purpose lens, which specializes in producing a transition between the in-focus and out-of-focus areas in the picture. The best feature in these lenses is its ability to reduce the distracting effects from the background without distorting the original image. These lenses also come at an excellent price range and are excellent in optical quality and range for daily use.
Moving on from lenses, we digress a little and jump on directly to the security cameras. The latest security system uses the board cameras. These are mini cameras that have lenses mounted on circuit boards. The small size of these cameras makes them simply apt for use in the security system applications. Sometimes they also use the pin hole lenses that are available in two categories – flat and conical lenses.
The conical lens is used when the security system camera is installed on the ceiling tiles and the flat lens is used when the security camera system uses a thin material such as clothing. Some of these board cameras also use the board lenses for better picture quality. Most of the board cameras operate with an AC adapter or at times using a battery for power supply. However, most of the brand manufacturers suggest the use of good quality adapters for your cameras.
Talking of camera systems, we just cannot afford to forget the canon camera systems. It is one of the leading producers of the most complete single lens reflex camera system in the world. They give you guaranteed products that can take you to a much higher level of photography. They use some exclusive technologies that are unmatched by any other camera manufacturer in the world.
Sometimes these cameras use the teleconverters for the conversion or rather extension of the focal lengths. One of the popular names in this field is the bower that boasts not only of teleconverters but are also leading manufactures of wide angle lenses. The bower lenses come with a high resolution, ultra wide angle and even macro fittings attached. Another important camera system is the telescopic camera system that is used for security as well as some industrial inspections. This system features a powerful monochrome camera and an illuminator mounted on a telescopic pole.
With all these varieties of cameras available, people generally do not prefer fixed lens cameras. Thus, manufacturers have come up with a better solution in the form of the varifocal lenses. As the name suggests, these lenses can be adjusted even after the purchase of the camera. In simple words, these lenses provide the facility of changing the focal length and consequently the magnification of the image.
There is one more historical name that needs to be added to the list and that is the cosina cameras and camera lenses. This company is also accredited with world’s first all-push-button SLR cameras. Then, there is a latest product in the market by the name of Nikon’s d2h camera, which is receiving rave reviews. It is much better in looks and performance than its predecessors D1H and D1.
Even after all these discussions, some of us are still not aware of many of the terminologies used in the field of camera and lenses. One good example is the 3x, which denotes the ratio of the camera’s longest focal length to the shortest focal length. It, by no ways, means that two 3x cameras will have the same actual magnification.
About the Author
carl formby owns and operates http://www.cameralensprice.com, dedicated to the Yashica Camera Lens and Hasselblad Camera Lens
50mm f/2 Tilt Shift Lens for Sony E Mount Camera NEX3 NEX5 NEX-3 NEX-5 E-Mount
 | US $349.00 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 17:20:34 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $349.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
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An Incredible Lens,
Pros: Lightning fast AF, Incredible Sharpness, Build Quality, Hood Design, Excellent IS
Cons: Price $$$$$, a bit big, a little heavy- not too bad.
WOW is all I can say. After getting over that I spent so much on a lens, this new machine is absolutely amazing. The image quality is top notch. 100% crops can be printed large and I can see every detail. I was in Miami and took some pictures of the big hotels, and was wondering what the names were. I looked at some of the pictures, zoomed in, and saw everything. Even small signs hundreds and hundreds of feet away. The IS adds a new feeling of confidence. No longer do you have to worry about shaking a tiny bit and the shot being out of focus or a bit blurry. Canon has really created an astounding piece of technology surpassing others(Nikon) in the lens market. The build quality, as expected from an L series lens, is made to withstand extreme conditions. The zoom ring is large and easy to use. The buttons for different IS and af/mf are easy to use/see. The new focusing distance allows you to get closer to your subjects, and can get quite close if some cropping is done. The Af is also excellent, and focuses very fast even in low light. Now, price… yes… I recommend thinking about this purchase for a while. 2500 – as of now, is a lot to spend, but if you have the money and really really want it, I highly recommend it. The pouch that it comes with is very nice and the hood is easy to put on and is a better material than other hoods. It does not scratch easily like my 24-70 f/2.8L lens hood does. At all apertures, this thing is sharp. If you are an IQ aficionado, this lens is quite a big step up from Mark 1 especially at f/2.8. For me, sharpness is my big thing, so I wanted the best out there. I did not want to step back in terms of technology and get the first generation of the lens even if it is still very good. In a few years if you decide that you want to sell the lens or change to something else, I can assure you that this will retain its resale value very well. I doubt Canon will be upgrading this in the next 5 years, so the sharpness and awesome Af will pay off in the coming days, months, and years to come.
All in all, the new 70-200 is quite a stunning lens which will continue to be one of or the best in Canon’s lineup of pro lenses. If you want it and can afford it without selling your house, I would get it haha but as always, research extensively and weigh your options before buying something at these price levels.
I hoped you liked the review. More info and analysis to come in the future…
Check out my unboxing video here: [...]
Thanks
- Alex
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|Much sharper than the MKI,
The 1st version was my favorite zoom in my bag which had the 16-35mm 2.8L and the 24-70 2.8L because it was so much sharper than the other two. I was really happy with the 1st version and wouldn’t have replaced it if this never came out. Now that the price has come down, about $130 from the original price, that should pay for a good B+W 77mm UVA (Ultra Violet) Haze MRC Filter #010. Don’t gimp this lens with a plastic coaster from Ritz!
The image stabilization improvement is noticeable! Before I sold the 1st version for $1,550 (June 2010), I compared the two indoors handheld. I couldn’t believe how 1 stop of IS really improved the quality and sharpness of the photos in low light.
With a crop sensor camera Canon EOS 7D 18 MP, Canon EOS 50D 15.1MP, or Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP, this lens is effectively: 112mm – 280mm.
It works great with the Canon EF 1.4X II Extender Telephoto Accessory, it brings the max aperture down to f4, but it is still pretty sharp.
Paired with a 7D or any other 1.6 crop lens, it will become a 156mm – 448mm lens!
I use with this lens with my 7D or the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. It works perfect for both and did not feel like I had to Micro Adjust the focus.
For 1st time buyers of this lens.
- Watch canonpricewatch dot com.
- If you never owned an L lens, you will be shocked at how sharp this is (then again, most L lenses should have that effect)
- If you never had Image Stabilization, this will allow you to take sharper photos indoors. It will reduce motion blur from lens movement, but not from the subject where the larger aperture has greater effect.
- It is weather sealed (you’ll notice a black o-ring at the mount) – you’ll need to add a lens filter to complete the sealing.
- You can use this for sports to portrait photography. For portraits, you get excellent bokeh at 200mm / f2.8 (the smooth background blur where your subject is in focus)
For those upgrading from the original Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM, I didn’t think there was much to improve on (I was wrong!)
- That lens came out in September 2001, so you are taking advantage of 9 years of technological advancement
- The buttons are designed better – I hated how I always switched to MF when shooting! This is now a non-issue (no need to tape it down)
- Second generation Image Stabilization technology that is silent, you could hear the motor sound of the gyro in the first version. You get 4 stops vs 3 stops IS.
- Improved optics – it has one fluorite and five UD elements for increased optical quality. You get reduced flare, which improves contrast (Your brain tells you it is “sharper”)
- This focuses much closer at 1.2m/3.9 ft (improved by 8.1″ at 200mm) – better for tight indoor portraits
- Focuses faster and quieter
- Larger focus grip area
- Improved hood Canon ET-87 – it has a lock that makes it easier to put on and remove. It has a different texture that is less susceptible to scratches.
- Bottom line, it is worth the upgrade, especially if you plan to keep it for many years.
Cons
It is expensive – but you get what you pay for
It is heavy, especially if you never owned L glass, but to maintain a fixed aperture at f2.8 throughout the zoom range requires lots of glass! Just stop being a wimp already.
Tips:
There are two modes of Image Stabilization: I rarely take it off Mode 1, but use Mode 2 if you plan to pan left or right (to follow a car or someone running)
The focus distance selector is handy, be sure to use if you find that it isn’t focusing indoors, it could be that you selected 2.5m – infinity.
Take off the tripod collar if you hand hold it a lot – it just gets in the way sometimes.
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|Significant Improvement!,
I used the Mark I version for the past six months and although I loved that lens, I sold it on Amazon a month ago (for 1,599!)and then used the cash to upgrade.
I struggled a bit with the high price but, now that I’ve seen the results, no longer question the decision. The images on the Mark I often had me slightly let down by either the sharpness or the contrast. I’ve taken hundreds of shots now with the Mark II and am amazed and how good they look right out of the camera. If you are a perfectionist that agonizes over sharpness, this is your lens!
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